Glossary Term – Event

In an unexpected upset, Harry S. Truman defeated Thomas E. Dewey in the presidential election. Truman had become unpopular in the wake of World War II, and pollsters and the media predicted that Dewey would oust the incumbent. Truman, however, had run a tireless and clever campaign. He took advantage of Dewey’s expectation of a sure win and appealed to labor, civil rights supporters, and the Democratic Party base for political and monetary support. On election day, Truman won 303 electoral votes to Dewey’s 189—segregationist Dixiecrat Strom...

Glossary Term – Person

Thomas E. Dewey (1902–1971) was the Republican candidate for the presidency in 1944 and 1948. In the 1948 election, Dewey was widely expected to easily win over Democratic nominee Harry S. Truman. Truman’s energetic campaign, however, helped him pull ahead for a surprising win over Dewey.